Title:Inorganic Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: A Transition from Lab to Clinic
VOLUME: 25 ISSUE: 34
Author(s):Samer Bayda, Mohamad Hadla, Stefano Palazzolo, Pietro Riello, Giuseppe Corona, Giuseppe Toffoli and Flavio Rizzolio*
Affiliation:Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano, Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems , Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Translational Research, National Cancer Institute and Center for Molecular Biomedicine - CRO, Aviano
Keywords:Cancer therapy, clinical trials, diagnostic, inorganic nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, metallic
nanoparticles, nanotechnology, theranostics.
Abstract:Background: Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) including those derived from metals (e.g., gold,
silver), semiconductors (e.g., quantum dots), carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, or oxides (e.g., iron oxide),
have been deeply investigated recently for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in oncology.
Compared to organic nanomaterials, inorganic NPs have several advantages and unique characteristics
for better imaging and drug delivery. Still, only a limited number of inorganic NPs are translated into
clinical practice.
Method: In this review, we discuss the progression of inorganic NPs for cancer therapy and imaging,
focusing our attention on opportunities, limitations and challenges for the main constituting nanomaterials,
including metallic and magnetic NPs. In particular, the pre-clinical and clinical trials from the
bench toward the clinic are here investigated.
Results: Over the last few decades, the development of wide range of NPs with the ability to tune size,
composition and functionality, has provided an excellent resource for nanomedicine. Inorganic NPs
provide a great opportunity as drug carriers, due to the easy modification of targeting molecules, the
control of drug release by different stimuli, and the effective delivery to target sites, thus resulting in
having an improved therapeutic efficacy and in reducing side effects. Inorganic NPs are investigated in
preclinical and clinical studies for the detection, diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. The stability
of inorganic NPs offers a potential advantage over the traditional delivery methods. Inorganic NPs
could enhance and improve current imaging and diagnostic techniques, such as MRI or PET. Even
though, they have not yet been approved for drug delivery applications, their ability to respond to external
stimuli is now widely investigated in clinic.
Conclusion: The successful translation of inorganic NPs to the clinic requires the development of a
simple, safe, cost-effective, ecofriendly mode of synthesis, and a better understanding of the safety
mechanisms, biodistribution and the pharmacokinetics of NPs. However, more attention should be
given to concerns on long-term toxicity, carcinogenesis, immunogenicity, inflammation and tissue
damage. Although, some inorganic NPs, which were apparently promising in the preclinical phase,
were found not to be successful when translated to the clinic, several encouraging NPs are currently
being developed for treatment and cancer care and for a wide variety of other diseases.
